Just over 600 people have opposed Renzo Piano's plans to regenerate Valletta through an objection letter written and circulated by environmental lobbyists Flimkien Għal Ambjent Aħjar.
Last week, the FAA uploaded an objection letter on the internet, urging people to send it to the planning authority if they too objected to various parts of the plans.
When contacted, FAA spokesman Astrid Vella said many people were supporting the cause because "we are not out to cancel the project, only to improve it to get the best results of Valletta".
"Considering it has only been up for a week and that this is not a campaign we have circulated properly yet, it is a very tidy figure," she said.
Their public call says FAA supports the remodelling of the City Gate area but maintains "this project needs to be planned with great care to avoid a repetition of past mistakes".
The FAA is objecting to the two central features of the plans: the open-air theatre, which they want roofed, and the Parliament in Freedom Square, which they want built elsewhere.
"We agree with turning the old Opera House site into a theatre and dropping the police station to maximise the backstage space and ensure financial feasibility. But we don't want to end up with an expensive white elephant that will not be used, like the Ta' Qali open-air theatre."
Ms Vella said the theatre would only be able to be used in summer and, even then, productions would be disturbed by the noise of village feasts and fireworks. The objection letter points out that Freedom Square is one of Valletta's last open squares and the new Parliament could be "accommodated" in other locations such as St George's Square, Auberge de Baviere or the Mediterranean Conference Centre.
The FAA argued that the project "violates" the Structure Plan for Malta and the Valletta Local Plan.
Ms Vella even said the FAA was concerned by the traffic management plan that would see vehicles enter from St Mark's Street and proceed through Old Bakery Street towards South Street.
"This would hugely increase toxic exhaust emissions, which could affect residents' health and damage old buildings. Alternative public transport, traffic and parking arrangements should be put in place before the project is implemented as the present proposals will have a negative impact on Valletta residents, its visitors and the commercial community."
When asked whether FAA did support any of the plans drawn up by the world-famous architect, Ms Vella said the plans were extremely complex and there were many good facets to it, such as the ideas for City Gate, the use of the ditch and the underground parking facilities.
When contacted, a spokesman for the Ministry of Infrastructure said this was an "open process" and everyone had the right to make their views known.
"We will respond in that process as well and, therefore, have no further comment at this stage," the spokesman said.
The objection letter can be accessed at http://www.ambjentahjar.org/Form1.htm .